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Edition 69 |22 September, 2006 |
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Ski & Snowboard Australia E-News
With the Southern season all but finished,
our National and Development athletes are shifting their focus to
the Northern hemisphere winter.
The 2006/2007 Northern Winter will
see the introduction of several new programs including the revamped
National Alpine Program. For the first time, SSA together with
Institute partner NSWIS will send a National World Cup Team,
Development Men’s and Development Women’s team to train and compete
internationally. Newly created Snowboard Halfpipe and Boardercross
National Development Squads will be travelling to Mammoth Mountain
and Copper Mountain respectively. These squads are made up of
athletes selected from the SSA operated Talent Identification Camps
held during August. A sub Development Mogul program will also
operate overseas for the first time.
This edition of the SSA e-news reviews highlights from the Southern
Winter, along with providing important athlete information for
those heading overseas this summer.
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International Competition Licenses (ICL)
Athletes who wish to compete overseas during the Northern Hemisphere
winter will be required to purchase an SSA International Competition
License. This license, in conjunction with current competition
insurance, will provide confirmation to overseas race organizers
that all the registration requirements of Ski & Snowboard Australia
and the International Ski Federation (FIS) have been completed.
Athletes who have already purchased an ICL for events in New Zealand
will only have to renew or provide confirmation of current
competition insurance for the Northern Hemisphere season to activate
their ICL.
Further information regarding the application process and insurance
premiums will be provided shortly.
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ALPINE EVENTS
Due to the difficult snow conditions in Australia a large number of
athletes traveled across to New Zealand to compete in the remaining
FIS events including the National Championships and the last two ANC
events of which the final event is currently being competed.
Jono Brauer has had a successful campaign across the Tasman by
winning the slalom and super G in the New Zealand National
Championships.
Brauer eclipsed fellow national team member Demian Franzen in the
slalom, compiling a two run total of one minute 28.43 seconds,
exactly one second faster than Franzen.
Third place went to Nick Cohee of the United States in a time of
1:30.34.
Australia's Patrick Sweeney recorded the second fastest second run
time to move into fourth place overall.
Though he opted not to start in the GS event, Brauer backed up in
the super G, taking gold again in a time of 1:05.47. Second was
Errol Kerr of the United States in 1:05.83, with Franzen taking the
bronze medal in a time of 1:06.76.
Lucy Ainge was the best of the Australian contingent in the women's
events, finishing top ten in all three races, with a sixth placing
in slalom her best return.
Courtesy OWI/Sportcom
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CROSS COUNTRY EVENTS
National Team skier Ben Sim has had a very successful season by
claiming the trophies in the 2006 FIS Australia New Zealand Cup, the
only southern hemisphere FIS Continental Cup series for cross
country skiing.
Sim won the last three events in the series to secure his win ahead
of Geoffroy Pais from France. He finished on 530 points, 108 ahead
of the Frenchman, with Ben Derrick in third place on 185 points.
Bondarenko skied a solid sixth place in the Kangaroo Hoppet to keep
her 38 points clear of Natascia Leonardi-Cortesi from Switzerland,
with Australia's best, KT Calder, ending the series in third place,
a further 20 points behind.
The winners of each of the FIS Continental Cup series around the
world are given extra quota places on World Cup and have their
expenses paid for these events, the same as for World Cup Red Group
skiers (the top 30 in the world).
Courtesy XC Files |
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FREESTYLE EVENTS
While
the World Aerials event was unfortunately cancelled, freestyle event
organizers still managed to hold the FIS Continental Cup mogul
events, the Heineken ABOM Challenge at Mt Buller and The Land Rover
Australian Mogul Championships at Perisher.
The Land Rover Australian Mogul Championships was an all Canadian
affair with Olympic Gold medalist Jennifer Heil winning both womens
events and compatriot Alexandre Bilodeau taking out both of the mens
events. Ramone Cooper was the highest place Australian finishing
third in the first event, Emma Chapman-Davies was the highest
finishing Australian women.
In the 18th running of the Heineken ABOM Mogul challenge at Mt
Buller Olympian Nick Fisher took the mens title in a head to head
battle against NSWIS skier David Graham, while the women’s event was
won by Austrian Margarita Marbler over Stephanie St. Pierre from
Canada.
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SNOWBOARD EVENTS
Despite
the unfortunate cancellation of the World Industry Nationals at Mt
Buller, event organizers were able to hold FIS boardercross events
at the Sprite Sessions at Thredbo and the Mt Hotham Titles.
The star studded field at the Sprite Sessions, including Olympians
Damon Hayler and Andrew Burton, was not enough to prevent Taan
Robrahn from taking the victory ahead of Chumpy Pullin. Laura
Williams managed to hold off Kym Cragnolini and the Wilton sisters
Kaitlyn and Daniele to take the win in the womens event.
At the Mt Hotham Titles, the weekend belonged to the Pullin family
with Emma taking out both of the womens events and Chumpy winning
the second mens event. Taan Robrahn added more gold to his seasons
collection by winning the first event ahead of Chumpy.
SSA and the Snowboard Committee would like to thank the resorts and
event organizers for their dedication to these races during the
season.
National Snowboard Development Squads
The Halfpipe and Boardercross Talent ID camps held at Perisher and
Thredbo, respectively, were a great success with 50 athletes
attending the camps to learn new skills and seek selection to the
development squads.
Read more...
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